SQL Server Management Studio is a handy tool that gives us the control to easily manage SQL Server. However, in Azure SQL Server, you can use its own query windows, where you can pass query against database. In today’s article, I will explain how to connect Azure SQL Server using your (on premises) SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS).

Given below is a step by step approach, demonstrating how to CONNECT Azure SQL using SSMS in simple steps.

Step 1 : (Create SQL Server in Azure)
First of all, you need to create/ setup a Server in Azure SQL Server using pre-requisite article.

Note : If you already have Setup Azure SQL Server, skip this step.

Step 2 : (Configure IP Address)
Once you have setup the Azure SQL Server in the above step, you just need to select that particular Server then further select Configure to add your local Server IP address from where you want to connect Azure using SSMS. This step is most important step because if you bypass this step and unable to add IP address of your local Server here, Azure will not allow your SSMS to connect Azure SQL Server.

Note : If you already configured the IP address of your local SQL Server machine, skip this step.

Step 3 : (Open SSMS)
Lets open SQL Server Management Studio and try to connect Azure SQL Server. Given below is the info that you must pass at the time of connectivity as shown below and Press ConnectButton. Make sure your caps lock key should be turned on/ off accordingly ;).

Server Name : Azure SQL Server Name.database.windows.net (gx8icm0cm.database.windows.net)Login : The login name which we created in pre-requisite article step 3.Password : The password which we created in pre-requisite article step 3.

I presume this will be your first step towards Azure SQL Server and I am sure you will find this article as a guideline to proceed and create SQL Server & database in Azure.
Given below is a step by step approach, demonstrating how to create them using simple steps.

Step 1 : (Create Azure Account)
First of all, you need to create a Microsoft Azure account (it is free for one month ONLY, however it asks the credit card details for verification ONLY).

Note : If you already have Azure account, skip this step.

Step 2 : (Select SQL Databases)
Once you create the account and Sign in to Microsoft Azure, you will be in the Microsoft Azure portal as shown below. Here you can see a lot of different exciting features, however, you need to select SQL DATABASES from the left pane. Once selected, you will see sql databases dashboard on the right hand pane. In order to create a NEWSQL SERVER, you need to select SERVERSfrom top and press + button at the bottom as shown below.

Note : If you already have SQL Server, skip this step.

Step 3 : (Provide SQL Server Info)
Now you are in the SQL database server settings screen. Here you need to select the SUBSCRIPTION (if you have ONLY one then it will be selected by default), LOGIN NAME, PASSWORDand REGION(always select the nearest region which gives you the best performance) and press the CHECKMARKshown below.

Note : If you already have SQL Server in Azure account, skip this step.

Step 5 : (Select the Server)
Now, you need to select the SQL Server you just created in the above step. (If you already have a server, you can select it). Once you selected the server, it will take you to the SQL Server dashboard. Here you need to select the Create Database as shown below.

Step 6 : (Create Database)
You are now in the database creation screen, here, you need to specify database settings. You need to enter database name and choose the Service tiers,performance level, collation depending upon your requirement. Once you specify all the settings, you need to press CHECKMARKbutton as shown below.

Now, your database has been created as shown below.

Let me know if you have created your first SQL Server & database in Azure and your feedback about it.

In my earlier articles, I explained, how to RESTOREthe backup from URL using T-SQL, SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) from windows Azure storage and it was quite simple & easy to understand. In this article, I will explain how to RESTORE the backup from URL using PowerShell.

Let me now demonstrate in few easy steps how to RESTORE backup from URL using PowerShell.

Step 1 – Create Account, storage & container :
First of all, you need to create a windows Azure account, a storage and a container as explained in this article.

Step 2 – RESTORE backup to URL :
Once you created the the Azure account, a storage and container and made sure that your backup is available in the windows Azure storage, you can RESTORE the backup from URL using given below script. In this script, first of all I declared the variables , then created credentials. After that RESTORED the backup as shown below. Rest of the script is self explanatory. Make sure that you have downloaded PowerShell Extensions for SQL Server in case you are using Windows PowerShell ISE instead of Windows PowerShell.

In my earlier article, I explained, how to RESTOREthe backup from URL using T-SQL and it was quite simple & easy to understand. In this article, I will explain how to how to RESTORE the backup from URL using SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS). It would be the same configuration but with the different screens & steps.

Let me now demonstrate in few easy steps how to RESTORE backup from URL.

Step 1 – Create Account, storage & container :
First of all you need to create a windows Azure account, a storage and a container as explained in this article.

Step 2 – Create Credential :
Once you have the details of Azure account, you need to create the credential using given below script. But if you notice, this script requires two parameters namely IDENTITY & SECRET. So how will I get them? Actually IDENTITY is the storage name that we created in the Pre-Requisite article -1 (Step 4) namely ‘raresql‘ and SECRET is the primary access key that we also picked up in the Pre-Requisite article -1 (Step 5). Lets create a credential.

Note: Please skip this step if you have already created the credentials.

Step 3 – Open Windows Azure Storage dialogue box :
Once you created the credentials, the next step is to right click on the particular database you want to restore the back up and select tasks, further you need to select Restore and Database … as shown below.

Step 5 – RESTORE the backup from URL :
Once you click on the Connect button, it will authenticate your account with Azure, once it will be authenticated, it will open the restore dialogue box and shows your back up. Now, you can select the back and restore it as shown below.

As you can see, the messages show that your backup has been restored successfully.

Let me now demonstrate in few easy steps how to RESTORE backup from URL.

Step 1 – Create Account, storage & container :
First of all you need to create a windows Azure account, a storage and a container as explained in this article.

Step 2 – Create Credential :
Once you have the details, you need to create the credential using given below script. But if you notice, this script requires two parameters namely IDENTITY & SECRET. So how will I get them? Actually IDENTITY is the storage name that we created in the Pre-Requisite article -1 (Step 4) namely ‘raresql‘ and SECRET is the primary access key that we also picked up in the Pre-Requisite article -1 (Step 5). Lets create a credential.

Note: Please skip this step if you have already created the credentials.

Step 3 – RESTORE the backup from URL :
Once you created the credential, lets RESTORE the backup on URL using given below script, which requires two parameters, one is credential that we created in the above step and the second is the URL of the backup that we created in the Pre-Requisite article -2 (Step 3).

Note: Before proceeding with the Backup restore, kindly log in to your Azure account and verify the existence of the backup which URL you will mention in the below script.

SQL Server backup to URL is a new feature shipped with SQL Server 2014. I explained how to take backup via SSMS (SQL Server Management Studio) in my earlier article. Today, I will demonstrate how to take SQL Server backup to URL via PowerShell.

Let me now demonstrate in few easy steps how to take backup to URL via PowerShell.

Step 1 – Create Account, storage & container :
First of all, you need to create a windows Azure account, a storage and a container as explained in this article.

Step 2 – Take backup to URL :
Once you created the the Azure account, a storage and container, you can take a backup on URL using given below script. In this script, first of all I declared the variables , then created credentials. After that take the backup as shown below. Rest of the script is self explanatory. Make sure that you have downloaded PowerShell Extensions for SQL Server in case you are using Windows PowerShell ISE instead of Windows PowerShell.

In my earlier article, I explained how to take SQL Server backup to URL in SQL Server 2014 using T-SQL. In this article, I will explain how to take SQL Server backup to URL using SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS).

Let me demonstrate in few easy steps how to take backup to URL using SSMS.

Step 1 – Create Account, storage & container :
First of all, you need to create a windows Azure account, a storage and a container as explained in this article. This step is mandatory to move forward.

Step 2 – Download Publishing Profile :
Once you have the details, you need to download the publishing profile. We will use this publishing profile in the next step to create credentials. Given below is the URL that will take you to your Microsoft Azure account, and once you log in your account, it will download the publishing profile having extension of .publishsettings.

Step 3 – Open Backup dialogue Box :
The next step is to take the backup of any database on Microsoft Azure. In order to do it, first of all select that database, right click on it, go to tasks and further select backup as shown below. This is the same procedure we follow to take the traditional backup.

Step 4 – Open Credential Dialogue box :
Once you selected the backup option, it will open the backup dialogue box. Here, you need to select the Back up to is URL. Here you see few backup options but for now you need to ignore these options and create credentials. Click the Create credential button as shown below.

Step 5 – Create Credential :
Now, you are in the credential creation screen, here you need to BROWSEthe file which you have downloaded in Step 2. Then SELECT the CERTIFICATE, it will automatically populate the STORAGE(s) after AZURE account verification. Then you need to select the STORAGE. Once you are done with all selections, you need to give a NAME to the credential and press Createbutton.

Note : If you have already created the credentials, you do not need to follow this step.

Step 6 – Setup Backup options :
Once you created the credential, you will revert to back up dialogue box and your created credential will be selected automatically. Now you need to enter the FILE NAME of the backup as well as the AZURE STORAGE CONTAINER NAME that we have created in earlier article at Step 9 as shown below. Press OK button.

Step 7 – Back Up in Progress :
Once you pressed OK button, the back up operation will start, however as compared to local, this back up operation will be slow. Be patient and wait for it to finish the operation as shown below.

Step 8 – Verify backup to URL :
The back up is done now, lets go to the container inside the storage in Windows Azure and check if the backup is available there or NOT because we saw the confirmation report in the above step.

As you can see above, the Back up is available in Azure. Isn’t it cool 😉 ?

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